What’s better than dancing in the crowd as your favorite band rocks a house of thousands? Dancing in the crowd as dozens of your favorite bands rock the outdoor stage for days! Some of the best music festivals take place in our own backyards, and we don’t want you to miss out!
1. Summerfest, Milwaukee WI, June 29-July 10
If you’re a Milwaukee native, you’re no stranger to Summerfest and all it’s glory. 11 days. 11 stages. Over 700 bands from almost every genre imaginable. Honestly, what part of that doesn’t sound absolutely phenomenal? The brainchild of Henry Maier, former Milwaukee mayor, in 1968, Summerfest has garnered so much attention both nationally and internationally that the festival now rakes in over 1 million attendees each year. And the best part about this humble gathering? The price! It’ll be hard to find another 700+ band extravaganza for $13. Yes friends, you read right. For the meager sum of $13 you’re general admission ticket grants you access to hundreds of free performances. The nightly headliners, however, do require a separate ticket, which can range anywhere from $20-$300 for VIP. And this year’s headliners? Amazing (my personal recommendations in bold)! Peter Gabriel, Kanye West with Kid Cudi, Toby Keith with Eric Church, Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow, Def Leppard, The Black Keys with Florence + the Machine, Katy Perry, Jason Aldean with Chris Young and Thompson Square, and Sugarland with Sara Bareilles will be headlining the Marcus Amphitheater stage. Additional artists include Third Eye Blind, Jack’s Mannequin, Goo Goo Dolls, Girl Talk and more! So if you happen to be in the Mil from June 29-July 10 (excluding July 4), I highly recommend stopping by the Marcus Amphitheatre on beautiful Lake Michigan to check out some serious summer concert action. For more information on artists, attractions, and ticket prices, check out the Summerfest website.
2. Dave Matthews Band Caravan, Chicago IL, July 8-10
In my 20 years on this earth, I have come to find that you either love him or you don’t. And I will shout it from the rooftops that I am a huge Dave fan. When the news broke that his second Caravan location was set for Chi City I was over-the-moon elated. Whether you’ve seen him every summer or are just now beginning to experience your DMB enlightenment, you do not want to miss this—the mother of all Dave shows. This year marks the 20th anniversary of DMB’s summer touring, and they decided to take a little break from their usual routine. This year, Dave and the gang will be hosting four three-day festivals in various locations across the country. And for the Midwest? Lakeside in Chi Town! The lineup is unreal, and if you’re anything like me and tend to flock toward more chill, folk-y tunes, it’s right up your alley! David Gray, Ray LaMontagne, Kid Cudi, Amos Lee, Ben Folds, The Flaming Lips, Emmylou Harris, The Wailers, and more. And, naturally, the Dave Matthews Band will be performing a full set each night! Oh, and did I mention that Tim Reynolds will be making an appearance? If you’re in Chicago, do it. If you’re not in Chicago…do it. Check out the Dave Matthews Band Caravan page for more information.
3. Van’s Warped Tour 2011, Various Locations/Dates
Whether you’ve always followed this traditionally punk rock showcase or not, there’s no denying that summer just wouldn’t be summer without a Warped Tour. With a storied 17-year history, the Van’s Warped Tour stemmed from Kevin Lyman’s vision to team live punk music with extreme sports, tour the nation and, later, the world. Since 2006, Warped has taken significant steps towards a “greener” tour with their Warped Eco Initiative, which is super awesome! Their use of compostable products, biodiesel fuel in tour buses, solar-powered stages, and washable dishes and silverware are all part of this Initiative (how cool is that?). As a 14-year-old, Warped was the first concert I ever attended and I had the time of my life (all you Warped veterans can agree). While I haven’t had the chance to return, I encourage you all to check it out this year. With multiple Midwest locations, a range of dates, and ticket prices that seem too good to be true, there’s almost no reason why you shouldn’t! Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin are all scheduled stops, so grab a few friends and trail the tour! Bands to watch: Against Me!, Gym Class Heroes, Jack’s Mannequin, Lucero, and A Day To Remember. Check out the official tour page for more information!
4. Country Thunder, Twin Lakes WI, July 21-24
While the South may take the cake on it’s love for country music, the Midwest also has quite the country following. Let’s face it, in a region that’s basically a giant blanket of cornfields and farms it’s only fitting that this genre be pretty prominent. Personally, I love country music, and I think those of you who share that interest will be pleased with what this year’s Country Thunder fest has to offer. Some of the top names in country music will be taking the stage in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, so if you’re a die-hard you do not want to miss this. Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin, and Rascal Flatts will all be there—just to name a few. I would also check out Jason Jones and Eden’s Edge, who will be performing as well. And if you’re a camper then this is definitely the festival for you, as there are several campsites conveniently located close to the concert grounds! For more info, visit the Country Thunder website.
5. Bonnaroo, Manchester TN, June 9-12
OK, so it doesn’t technically take place in the Midwest, but no festival list would be complete without this one. The lineup for Bonnaroo speaks for itself. Actually, this lineup is screaming at the top of its lungs and banging down your door. Eminem (Grammy winner), Arcade Fire (Grammy winner), The Black Keys (Grammy winner), and Ray LaMontagne (Grammy winner) are all on the docket. Not to mention Mumford & Sons (Grammy nominee), Florence + the Machine (Grammy nominee), Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Ratatat, Iron and Wine, NOFX, and so many more. Born in 2002, this four-day, multi-stage festival in Manchester, Tennessee has forever changed the history of rock and roll. But don’t just take my word for it: Rolling Stone listed the Bonnaroo experience as one of the top 50 history-changing moments of the genre. Not only are the music and performances on a level all their own, but Bonnaroo has also been touted for its chill vibe and friendly atmosphere. This festival truly does have something for everyone. From amazing live music, a silent disco, cinema, beer festival, and music technology village, there’s very little Bonnaroo doesn’t have. So why not take off a few days in early June and hang out in a giant field with tens of thousands of your closest friends? You only have so much time left to be foolish and free, so make the most of it and just be breezy at Bonnaroo! Check out the Bonnaroo website for all the deets!
6. Lollapalooza, Chicago IL, August 5-7
Last, but certainly not least: Lolla. The Midwest’s crown jewel of summer music fests. Three days of taking in some audibly delicious treats in Chicago’s Grant Park is the perfect way to close the door on Summer ’11. And Dave isn’t the only one with an anniversary this summer—Lolla has been going strong since 1991 and will also be ringing in the big 2-0. Jane’s Addiction front man Perry Farrell is the mastermind behind this whole operation, and has seen his humble, 10-artist, inaugural festival take on a life of its own. Lollapalooza has released an amazing time capsule to commemorate this milestone, and celebrate both the Lolla and non-Lolla happenings from the past 20 years. This year’s headliners include Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, My Morning Jacket, deadmau5, and A Perfect Circle. Cee Lo Green, Bright Eyes, Explosions in the Sky, Flogging Molly, City and Colour, Cold War Kids, and Damian Marley and Nas will also be rocking Grant Park this year. With over 130 artists representing indie rock, punk, pop, hip hop, reggae, and countless other genres, Lollapalooza has become the Mecca of Midwest festivals, with fans flocking from all across this great nation, and others as well! So I’ll pull the responsibility card on you again: time is running out! Soon enough we’ll be cooped up in offices, sitting on conference calls, and taking kids to football practice and dance class. Take these three days to be “young and wild and free.” Leave with some stories to tell your kids one day. Or not… Visit Lollapalooza’s website and make sure you don’t miss out!
Sources
Summerfest
– http://www.summerfest.com/flash2011/#app=9335&8b6e-selectedIndex=0&71fe-selectedIndex=0
– http://milwaukee.about.com/od/festivalsevents/a/Summerfest.htm
– http://www.marcusamp.com/lineup.cfm
– http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/fests/view/433/summerfest
– Photo: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/katy-perry/images/7941353/title/katy-perry-wallpaper
Dave Matthews Band Caravan
– http://www.dmbcaravan.com/
– http://www.timreynolds.com/news/
Country Thunder
– http://wisconsin.countrythunder.com/?s=2.3
Warped Tour
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warped_Tour
– http://punkmusic.about.com/od/punk101/p/warpedtour.htm
– http://vanswarpedtour.com/
– Photo: Jack’s Mannequin via http://www.livemusicguide.com/blog/artist-tours/music-news-jacks-mannequin-announces-summer-tour.html
Bonnaroo
– http://www.bonnaroo.com/Default.aspx
– http://top40.about.com/od/concerts/tp/bonnaroofestival.htm
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnaroo_Music_Festival
– http://www.grammy.com/nominees
– http://www.bonnaroo.com/info/what-is-bonnaroo.aspx
– http://www.bonnaroo.com/artists.aspx
– Photo: http://uncrate.com/stuff/bonnaroo-2008/
Lollapalooza
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lollapalooza_lineups_by_year#1991
– http://www.lollapalooza.com/
– http://lineup.lollapalooza.com/
– http://www.lollapalooza.com/history
– Photo: http://musicindustrysite.com/lollapalooza-2011-rumors